As fresh roasted coffee becomes more poplar in the country, China finds itself pulling back exports and even importing to meet demand

Could coffee be giving tea a run for its money in China? If recent economic reports are correct, it could be.

The Wall Street Journal reported yesterday that China is on its way to becoming a net importer of coffee. The country has enjoyed a successful coffee export business in the past, but thanks to growing demand for the drink at home, the majority of those beans are now staying within Chinese borders.

Reports from Chinese data indicate that coffee exports have been cut by 95 percent within the last year. Meanwhile, imports grew by 34 percent with 18,687 tons being imported between January and November of last year.

“China will continue exporting coffee this year, but it’s quite certain that the imports will exceed exports,” said Qian Jiaying, deputy secretary-general of the China Coffee Association Beijing.

Changing times, changing minds

Many studying this trend have sited Starbucks’ influence within the country. Just last week, the Seattle brand celebrated its 10th anniversary in China. A special, limited-edition blend featuring Chinese-grown coffee was rolled out in honor of the date. With over 300 stores in China, Starbucks is looking to double their footprint in the country by adding another 300 stores within the next few years and working with domestic coffee farmers to promote sustainability.

Lest we forget, Starbucks hasn’t had an easy road to that milestone in China: when a small Starbucks kiosk opened within Beijing’s Forbidden City in 2000, it caused outrage among locals.

By some accounts, coffee is still a trendy thing in China. The younger generation  has embraced it by carrying it to work with them and making coffeehouses into hangouts, much like here in the states. But until the late 1980’s, when a partnership between the United Nations Development Program and Nestle began growing coffee in China’s Yunnan province, the concept of fresh roasted coffee was lost within the country’s own preference for instant coffee. Even now, the 3-in-1 instant coffee packets – a mix of freeze-dried coffee, sugar, and cream – is the norm in most homes.

The only factor that may stand in the way of China’s continued success with homegrown coffee at the moment is weather. The Yunnan province has a climate similar to Indonesia or South America, which makes it perfect for growing the Arabica beans they produce, but coffee plant viruses such as “Dry Leaf” have plagued the area in the past.

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